Carolyn J. Washington, Colonel (retired) U.S. Army is an accomplished diplomat and military officer with experience working in Europe, Asia and Africa at U.S. embassies and major regional military commands, in cooperation with host nation ministries of defense and foreign affairs and international organizations to include NATO, the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU); the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE); and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).  While assigned to the U.S Army Africa command, she chaired the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Working Group, where she devised an implementation plan for the integration of UNSCR 1325 within the organization.

Carolyn is currently a PhD candidate at the State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo in the Global Gender Studies Program.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Bennett College; Master of Arts, Criminal Justice, George Washington University; Masters of Arts, National Security Affairs, Naval Post Graduate School; Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College; and Master of Arts, Women’s and Gender Studies, Rutgers University.

Her research interests focus on the successful integration of UNSCR 1325 within NATO militaries, particularly the prevention pillar.